Your Body Can Heat a House: The Secret to Energy Efficient Passive Houses
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German physicist Dr. Wolfgang Feist built the first "passive house" in Germany in 1991. He intended to make it energy efficient through the prevention of unnecessary heat loss, employing strategies like extra insulation, triple-pane windows, and the sealing of all air leaks. Unintentionally (and rather happily), Feist found his home warmed up easily thanks to body heat, appliances, and the sun, given the house's orientation.
Feist founded Passivhaus-Institut in 1996 to develop and control a standard for energy efficient homes. Today, there are about 40,000 passive houses worldwide that follow the standards. Half of them are in Germany.
A recent Tyee story reported that a Passivhaus-certified building in Ottawa for low-income tenants is near completion. It's estimated energy savings are between 50 and 85 per cent of a non-passive building of similar design.
This video by Passivhaus consultant Hans-Jörn Eich explains how the buildings work in 90 seconds. He likens the secret to fortifying the homes as simply "wearing the right winter jacket."